OGC and Web3D Consortium Agree to Advance Joint Standards

Wayland, MA, USA. December 19, 2006.

The Open Geospatial Consortium, Inc. (OGC) and the Web3D Consortium signed a memorandum of
understanding to work together to cooperatively advance standards to
support web-based 3D visualization, modeling and simulation.

Mark Reichardt, President of the OGC explained, "The OGC membership,
working with ISO TC/211 and other standards groups, has helped to make
standards-based interoperable geospatial services a reality on the
Web. This agreement will enable OGC and Web3D to work more
cooperatively on the development and promotion of standards for
improved application of web-based, location enabled 3D visualization,
modeling and simulation".

Among the many benefits that will derive from this collaboration will
be improved standards-based, location enabled 3D web services to
support urban planning; architecture, engineering and construction;
climate prediction, homeland security, emergency management, defense
and intelligence, and other capabilities.

Alan Hudson, President of Web 3D, noted that "The OGC and the Web3D
Consortium envision the synthesis of 2D maps with content-rich 3D
immersive worlds. To that end, we believe the incorporation of
interactive, internet based 3D graphics is the next logical step that
will benefit users with a richer, more meaningful geospatial
experience."

The OGC is an international industry consortium of more than 335
companies, government agencies, research organizations, and
universities participating in a consensus process to develop open
interface specifications. OpenGIS. Specifications support
interoperable solutions that "geo-enable" the Web, location-based
services, and mainstream IT. The specifications empower technology
developers to make complex spatial information and services accessible
and useful with all kinds of applications. Visit the OGC website at
http://www.opengeospatial.org

The Web3D Consortium is a non-profit, international standards
organization that originally spearheaded the development of the VRML
1.0 and 2.0 specifications. Today, the Web3D Consortium is utilizing
its broad-based industry support to continue developing the X3D
specification, for communicating 3D on the Web, between applications
and across distributed networks and web services. Through
well-coordinated efforts with the ISO and W3C, and now the OGC, the
Web3D Consortium is maintaining and extending its standardization
activities. Visit the Web3D Consortium at http://www.web3d.org.